Wisconsin's Kaminsky back at Benet touts his failures leading to his success
Wisconsin basketball star Frank Kaminsky knows a little bit about success after leading his team to the NCAA championship game.
But he knows a little something about failure, too, he told students Thursday during a ceremony to retire his uniform No. 44 at Benet Academy in Lisle.
"People who are great are the people who are good at failing," he told an excited crowd. "I'm proud to say that I'm one of the best failures of all time."
Kaminsky's recognition as 2015 National College Player of the Year puts him in a class with some of the best basketball players of all time, including stars like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, David Robinson and Kevin Durant, Benet basketball coach Gene Heidkamp said.
"Congratulations, Frank, on all you have achieved," Heidkamp told his former player. "We are proud you are a Redwing."
Kaminsky, who graduated from Benet in 2011, accepted a framed jersey and took the chance to share a message of perseverance.
He told the story of his fourth practice as a freshman at Wisconsin, when he was frustrated by the way things were going both on the court and in the classroom.
Then coach Bo Ryan took charge.
"He looked me in the eye and said, 'Get out of my gym,'" Kaminsky said. "He said, 'Get out of my gym and walk back in with a smile on your face because that's how you're going to attack every single day.'"
It worked.
"You've got to have a smile on your face. You've got to be excited to do things," Kaminsky said. "And that's how I attacked every single day at Wisconsin."
It's Kaminsky's off-court personality as much as his on-court dominance that earned him the recognition from his former school, Benet Principal Steve Marth said.
"We gather this afternoon to celebrate the fine gentleman that Frank has become, the values that he has embodied both on and off the court, and the admirable way in which he has comported himself as a student-athlete," Marth said. "He has remained true to the to his Benet roots."
Even Lisle Mayor Joe Broda, who declared April 16 Frank Kaminsky Day in the Arboretum Village, and Kaminsky's elementary school, St. Joan of Arc in Lisle, joined in honoring him. Instead of retiring Kaminsky's eighth-grade jersey No. 40, St. Joan of Arc will allow one deserving boy and girl to wear it each year.
"To be chosen they must display the never-give-up attitude, hard work ethic in fifth, sixth and seventh grade both on the court and in the classroom," St. Joan of Arc Athletic Director Brian Kenney said. "Thank you for giving them something to strive for because it's going to be a really big deal to wear that number. Thank you also for showing them hard work does pay off."
Known as "Frank the Tank," Kaminsky committed to Wisconsin after his junior year at Benet. He didn't play heavy minutes his first two seasons but kept working hard until he averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a center in his junior season, in which the Badgers made it to the Final Four.
This year, Kaminsky's team earned its first No. 1 seed in school history and made it even further, to the championship game, before losing to Duke.
With all the national recognition he's received, the 7-foot-tall Kaminsky said it meant more to be honored by his former school in front of his immediate and extended family.
"It's an exciting time," he said. "I'm going to make the most of it."
'Frank the Tank' stats, awards
College: University of Wisconsin-Madison 2011 to 2015
• Set school record for points in one game with 43 against North Dakota
• Set single-season scoring record with 732 points in his senior year
• Set school record for career blocks with 153
• Second player in Wisconsin history to post at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks
High School: Benet Academy in Lisle 2007 to 2011
• Averaged 14.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 2.8 assists
• Named all-area, all-conference and East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year
• Named first-team all-state by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association